'Big Apple Barbecue Block Party' on Serious Eats

The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party may be a little settled into its ways, with the same pit masters coming back year after year, but this year proved that, even after 11 years, it's still one of the top barbecue events across the country.

Whether this is your first time at the Manhattan rodeo or your eleventh time rubbing pork shoulders with fellow barbecue pilgrims, you will benefit by thinking through the event ahead of time. Here's our shortlist of tips for making the most of your block party experience. More

This weekend, June 8th and 9th, over 100,000 eaters will flood Madison Avenue for the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. For the eleventh year, 18 of the country's best pit masters serving up whole hogs, ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and other cuts. Live music and lots of booze promise it'll once again be one hell of a party. Dinosar Bar-B-Cue's John Stage is one of the pit masters repping NYC; here he talks to us about what got him into this world, and shares details on his new Brooklyn restaurant. More

The anticipatory night before the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is a little like Christmas Eve in June. What goes on at this party-before-the-party? We chatted with some pit masters and tasted some grilled chicken to find out. More

Smoke will rise from Madison Square Park tonight as 17 barbecue crews get fired up for the 10th annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. Whether this is the first time you've caught the scent off Broadway or the tenth time you'll be making the pilgrimage, you'll benefit from a plan of attack to make the most of limited time, money, stomach space, and patience for one of the most daunting cookouts of the Summer. More

Chef Kenny Callaghan—the executive chef, pit master and partner to Danny Meyer at Blue Smoke—may be a born and bred New Yorker, but he exudes southern charm and hospitality. And he's a founding organizer of the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, coming up this weekend. We spoke with him about his favorite 'cue and this year's party, which is expecting a crowd of over 100,000 people. More

The 2012 Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is almost here; we're giving away a fast pass ticket that gives you an express line to the best 'cue, plus a guided tour of the party from our own Ed Levine. More

On the eve of the tenth annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, only the greatest weekend of the year for barbecue lovers in NYC, the Southern Foodways Alliance will be throwing the Potlikker Film Fest—a dinner and screening event on Friday, June 8, bringing together Southern food, bourbon, and short films. Enter to win a pair of tickets here. Special guest Julian Van Winkle, the grandson of "Pappy" himself, will be pouring from his family's stash of brown whiskey! More

The 9th annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party was hardly different from the 8th annual Big Apple Barbecue, which wasn't all too different from the 7th annual Big Apple Barbecue. Fortunately, after nine years of building a bigger and better barbecue, the Block Party's repetitions taste more like tradition. A curated festival of Southern-style barbecue in New York City is not something to turn down lightly, no matter how many times we've lined up for our favorite pulled pork sandwich in the past. More

New York is two days away from its best taste of whole hog heaven. (Oh, and rib heaven. And pork shoulder heaven. And beef brisket heaven.) At the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, Madison Square Park will be an animal's graveyard on a roll, with some of the biggest names in barbecue from all around the country coming in for the occasion. Here's our guide to making the most of this year's Block Party. More

We had a tough time picking our favorite haiku in last week's Big Apple Barbecue Block Party FastPass giveaway (see photos from the porkorama weekend!), but this one scored the most votes among the SE staff. Olfactory caress is a... More

[All photos: Nick Solares] The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is coming up this weekend—and as most of us have limited stomach capacities as well as limited patience to wait in lines, I thought I'd give you my cheat... More

We look forward to this weekend every year: the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. 'Cuemasters from all over the country pile into Madison Square Park to smoke and flip meats for the masses. But as experienced attendees know, the FastPass... More

The seventh annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party rolled into town over the weekend. More than 120,000 attendees feasted on about 55,000 pounds of pork and beef. Here is a pit-by-pit guide of the two-day festival. Many NSFV (the... More

"Whole hog barbecue is a dying art." This weekend, New York City might seem meat-scented when Madison Square Park turns into one big cook-out for the seventh annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party. Only the most elite of grillers can... More

It was tough judging this year's ticket giveaway to Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, happening June 13 and 14. So many Serious Eaters double as Serious Haikuers. But, without further ado, the winners: This little piggy Went to Madison Square... More

Tickets are currently on sale for this year's Big Apple Barbecue Block Party on June 13 and 14. The annual fest brings together 'cuemasters from around the country who descend on New York's Madison Square Park to flip meats for... More

The food porn from this weekend's Big Apple Barbecue Block Party has been pouring in since early Saturday afternoon, and if you missed it (or you just want to stare lovingly at your favorite plates of 'cue), there are... More